Criticism of the ACT and SAT

Last week saw a lot of attention on the SAT and ACT when NACAC, the National Association for College Admission Counseling, presented a report criticizing the over-emphasis of standardized test scores in the college admissions process. The heads of admissions from top colleges and universities including Harvard noted that the exam scores aren't the best predictors of college success, and that many institutions place too much weight on the tests when making admissions decisions.

This criticism is good news for students who aren't fans of the ACT and SAT. Despite all the media play, however, the NACAC critique won't have much impact on students applying to college this year. If a school's admissions officers have historically placed significant weight on test scores, chances are they still are.

Non-seniors, however, are likely to see the list of test-optional colleges grow in the near future. I've created a list of the most selective test-optional colleges, and FairTest.org maintains the complete list of over 775 four-year test-optional colleges here.